Affexa Care Services - Stafford

Updated 29 February 2020

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. We also wanted time to obtain contact details of people who used the service and relatives, where appropriate.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We received feedback from one healthcare professional. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, a compliance and risk administrator, three members of staff, two people and three relatives. We looked at three people’s care records and medicines records, records of accidents, incidents, and complaints received by the service. We looked at recruitment records, staff supervision, appraisal records, training matrix, and audits completed by the registered manager.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at the services policies and procedures.

Updated 29 February 2020

About the service

Affexa Care Services is a Domiciliary Care Agency (DCA) providing personal care to younger and older adults, with a varying level of personal care needs. Staff provided care to people living in their own homes. At the time of inspection, the service was supporting 15 people. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff had received some training; however, the provider had not ensured some care staff’s yearly refresher mandatory training, was up to date. However, staff had received specific training related to people’s health conditions and felt suitable skilled to meet people’s needs.

We made a recommendation regarding systems in place to monitor staff mandatory training.

The provider did not effectively use quality assurance system to ensure and evidence that they had reviewed the service provision to identify any issues or trends.

People’s care needs, and choices were documented in care files. They detailed the support required from staff at each visit. People and relatives spoke positively about the care and support they received from Affexa Care Services.

Medicines were handled safely by the service.

Staff received supervision throughout the year in the office and community

People told us about the professional and friendly support they received from Affexa Care Services and how this had positively impacted on their lives.

People received support that was individualised to their personal needs. Peoples care plans clearly highlighted background information and how they like to receive care.

The provider held team meetings to discuss relevant topics and to provide staff with up to date information.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 April 2019).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.